Airfreight is more expensive than ever due to high fuel prices. This has increased interest in transporting cut flowers by sea. During the 2006 tulip season more than 20 containers of tulips were surface shipped from the Netherlands to the USA. Try outs for sea shipping of flowers are also being conducted from other origination points.

Floating cooler

Reefer containers for transport of flowers by sea, with a cooling motor, fan and a lowered ceiling, whereby the air is channelled back to the cooling installation. 

Maximum stacking height is shown by a red stripe.

The temperature, relative humidity and ventilation can be set on the control panel. The maritime containers are well insulated and 2.75" high aluminium T-sections promote the circulation of air. The air flows under the freight and then rises.  

These maritime containers have been in operation for over 20 years to transport bulbs to countries including the USA. So, indeed the maritime containers are floating cold rooms.

Procona - sturdy packaging

The Procona packaging unit is comprised of a plastic container with a lid and collar. The container is filled with water, and the stems stand upright in the  container. The type of collar depends on the length of stem.

A plastic collar is recommended for transport by sea - in order to avoid all possible risks. With the plastic collars, Procona packaging units can handle the toughest situations, including rough seas.

Micro-climate - temperature in the packaging

Everyone in the flower industry knows that they are dealing with a living, breathing product. The breathing process releases heat and vapor - which increases as the temperature rises and breathing gains pace. The outcome is a reduced vas-life. This makes it very important that while being transported by sea the temperature of the flowers stays as low as possible. Ideally this is just above freezing to prevent the flower from icing up completely.

It's well known that a box with pre-cooled flowers will warm itself up. This warm up precess happens faster if the boxes are stacked up in a pile, because there is only limited (or no) air circulation along the sides of the boxes.

It's very important to have a good outlet for heat and humidity. With an absence of outlet for heat and vapor the impact on the quality of the flowers would only be limited if transport lasted just`1 or 2 days. However, a sea voyage lasts longer, approzimately 2 to 3 weeks, so a good outlet for heat and humidity is important; indeed this is the deciding factor for flowers arriving in good condition, and to stay that way!

Procona, ventilating packaging

The lid of the Procona packaging is made so that the next container rests on the lid leaving around 80 cm² for good ventilation. The plastic container is narrower at the base; this means that a pallet with Procona has "built-in air passages". This allows the cold air to flow around every package. Procona packaging units are ideal for long sea voyages and overland journesy. Procona clients in California truck Delphiniums and Centums to New York. A Moroccan client sends spray carnations from Casablanca to Norway, meanwhile a Mexican Procona user sends roses from Mexico City to Toronto.

And in recent years in Holland we have gained experience in transporting tulips by sea. Tests show that sea transport also works well with other types of flowers.

The tulips are shipped in Procona packaging units, on pallets (photo 7). The pallets are secured with corner clips and 3 or 4 horizontal straps. There is a space between the pallets and the walls to allow good air circulation, but only enough for absolutely minimal movement by the pallets. The cooling containers usually measure 38" - 40" long and 7.5" across. The maximum load level up to the red stripe is between 7.5"-8", but this also depends on the shipping company.

Procona!

If a Procona unit with flowers at 64 ° F is placed in a cold room at 35-40° F, between 4 and 6 hours later the temperature in the packaging will only be 33° F higher than the temperature in the cold room. And it will stay that way for weeks. This is because of the open lid even when stacked. Cold air can easily flow in the packaging, and warm air and vapor can easily flow out of the packaging. As the flowers are in direct contact with the cold air no condensation will form in the Procona.

Obviously whenever possible, flowers in cold storage should be kept in water. But when flowers are shipped the situation is debatable. Tests with long haul transport show clear improvement in the quality of flowers when upon arrival at their destination if they are transported in water.

Advice

The temperature inside the packaging determines the quality of the flowers. The "built-in air-channels" in the pallet make Procona ideal for long haul transportation, whether by road or by sea. It is also a sturdy, solid packaging unit.

If you consider shipping flowers by sea, please call Pagter Innovations for more information. We look forward to being of service.